The Memory Paradox.
Not all words get through.
2.5 million gigabytes of memory
count for nought if words are stopped at the gate
The meaning of ‘lambent, for instance,
or the tricky title
of that Tony Joe White song,
the best cover Elvis ever did.
Not even the name of the new friend we made
at Church last Sunday,
starting with J: Jordan? Josh? Jaidin?
My daughter doesn’t remember either.
Maybe it’s a family thing.
Why do some words get blocked, while millions of others
get through?
The mind has a mind of its own.
*pic courtesy of pinterest
John Malone 
it’s crazy, I’m the same, but I can remember very odd and useless trivia facts
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I know; I even remember who sang ‘The Legend of Xanadu’; bet no one else does:) it’s Dave, Dee, Dozy, Mick and Tich 🙂
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Ha! I believe it, John. And mine thinks it knows better than me. It forgets things, and when I complain it says, “It was for sanity’s sake.” 😂 I love the ‘red rover’ reference. Oh, it’s been too long. Send the summer I was seven on over, while you’re at it.
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hahah; not these three days you wouldn’t want 🙂
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Sad to hear this. Yes, well, keep those days in the compost bin. Hope you are having a much better day today. 💜
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I am; thanks; the pool’s just down the street so I fill an hour or so there instead of gym; so refreshing:) hope your day is going well —
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Tony Joe White would have liked this piece. It’s a bit mysterious, as he was.
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thanks Neil; that’s appreciated; mind you I love Tony Joe’s version the best, raw and original 🙂
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This definitely caught my attention ..but sometimes I forget things.
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thank you; I had to give it a memorable title 🙂
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Thank you for your insightful post on the paradox of memory, highlighting the complexity and unreliability of our recollections.
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glad you liked it; glad to get a new reader 🙂
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The tip of the tongue phenomena plagues me too, and without fail at 2 in the morning the word will pop right into my head. I’ve been reading Lisa Genova’s book Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting. Interesting read.
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I’ll look it up; I’m going to the library tomorrow; thanks 🙂
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I can so relate to this, John. My brain selects things it can’t be bothered to remember. Like the name of one particular neighbour. So embarrassing! But , since chemo, I forget words regularly as well. Often I can remember something that is almost the word in sound but unrelated in meaning. Like I was trying to remember the singer Beth Orton and I came up with Ruth Horton. 🤣
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hahaha; yes,the mind like God works in a mysterious way 🙂 ps glad you got through, Worms; I would have missed your voice 🙂
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I have a terrible memory, so I know what you mean. And I think I’m prone to the baker baker paradox as well.
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I don’t know that one, Bob; how does it go?
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That we are more likely to remember what someone does (baker) rather than their name (Baker). Seems I can never remember names.
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Well put, John. I had a great comment going but I can’t remember it!
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hahaha; love that, Ulle 🙂
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It really does! I often wonder why I have so many song lyrics in my head and random facts, but blank on names or recipes. Memory is an odd thing.
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I like to celebrate oddity 🙂 thanks for visiting, Bridgette
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I agree with that last line. Some words are just meant to get lost or be forgotten. I wonder why too. Great pondering, John. 🙂
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Lol, I had my pondering cap on for this one 🙂
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